A total of 49 cases in which members of the RUC/PSNI police were
responsible for extra-judicial killings have been consigned to a “legal
limbo”, according to reports.

These cases, some of them involving the so-called ‘shoot to kill’
ambushes and assassinations, were sent to the Police Ombudsman’s office
four years ago.

They were not investigated, with the Ombudsman blaming European
legislation which prohibits police forces from investigating
themselves.

Among the cases which have been shelved are six killings carried out by
the police in County Armagh in the space of a single month.

IRA members Sean Burns, Gervaise McKerr and Eugene Toman were shot dead
by RUC members in in November 1982 as was 17-year-old civilian Michael
Tighe.

The following month two other local men, Seamus Grew and Roddy
Carroll,
were shot dead in a police ambush after they were suspected of
being members of the INLA.

Sinn Féin Assembly member Gerry Kelly has called for new legislation to
correct what he called an “anomaly” in the law.

“This adds insult to injury and is a further injustice to the
families,” he said.

“The Police Ombudsman must have known about this before the court
hearing in May. Either they were sleeping through it or they decided
not to act upon it.

“Families who have loved ones killed have the right to an effective,
independent and prompt investigation under law. This appears to be a
legislative anomaly.

“If that is the case then it needs to be fixed in legislation. I will
be seeking clarity from the Minister for Justice because he is
responsible for the powers vested in this Office.”

Mr Kelly said the development was yet another blow to the disgraced
Police Ombudsman, Al Hutchinson.

“It underlines why he must leave. The independence and effectiveness of
the Office must be restored.

“That means that the Office must be given the freedom and resources to
use its existing powers and be given the additional powers the Office
requires to do its job successfully. This includes the power to compel
retired police officers to co-operate with investigations by the Police
Ombudsman.”